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Okay, I cried over the loss of Thai Dusit, but I can overlook that with the arrival of this new place which delivers some solid home Thai cooking. (We liked Thai Dusit and the man behind the...
Okay, I cried over the loss of Thai Dusit, but I can overlook that with the arrival of this new place which delivers some solid home Thai cooking. (We liked Thai Dusit and the man behind the burners who could cook some mean food, but they were probably not charging enough to stay in business.)
This place is right down the street from Pair and Kid Valley. While it's no place to impress anyone, it is a full service restaurant (in that they bring you food and pour you water). They kept the last restaurant's cheesy electric fireplace, but otherwise they decorated it with simple, if not sparse, pseudo-modern furnishings (maybe from IKEA).
Well, on to the food. It's good. For now they are delivering some solid food with fresh ingredients. This is a good place for basil lovers; I recommend Spicy Basil Fried Rice and their Kee Mao Noodles with wide noodles. They are at the good mac-and-cheese comfort level, only better. I'd want to eat the Kee Mao every day, if I don't crave variety. Their papaya salad is also excellent - no more cheap, tiny dry shrimps topping the salad - you can actually see that they are shrimps! :-) Very flavorful. Massaman curry is also good and creamy. It's one of those things that makes you think, "this must be soooo bad for my caloric intake, but I can eat this again tomorrow", esp. if you are having PMS.
There are some misses in the menu, like their "Thai style Sukiyaki". Don't know what they were going for there. Just so you know, it's more of a soup than sukiyaki, and its spices are too simplistic and not very exciting. It's good for clearing your sinus, though.
The prices are right between fast food restaurants and true restaurants - most dishes are $8-9, which makes this place a prime stop when you don't feel like cooking. If you are in the neighborhood, give it a try. They also deliver locally for free for orders over $15.
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Tart is right down the street from the SPL Ballard branch in an obscure basement, but it's an unexpectedly cute space - aided by ample skylight, spiral staircase, airy interior colors and the cute...
Tart is right down the street from the SPL Ballard branch in an obscure basement, but it's an unexpectedly cute space - aided by ample skylight, spiral staircase, airy interior colors and the cute resident pug Rocco. I was lured in by the free haircut offer with coloring services, and upon contacting Jami who runs the salon by email, I was promptly scheduled for the next day appointment.
Overall I had a good experience - Jami is friendly and fun to talk to, and she was easy to work with. She brought me a couple of cups of herbal tea, too. She helped me pick out a cute hair color that's a bit different and fun, and weaved in that color with violet hue with more traditional brown since I had my wedding coming up. She showed me some neat styling tricks for my wavy hair. They also have cute accessories and fun cosmetics (Susan Posnick mineral makeup, etc.). They touch up your makeup for fun, too.
I only gave the business a "good" rating because:
- Many good salons I'd been to usually put a protective cream (or a strip of cotton) around my hair line before coloring, so the hair color doesn't stain my face and is easy to wipe off - this is an extra amount of detail, but it shows they care. Even not minding that, I had to point out a couple of big spots where the color got on my face to get help to take it off. (It was starting to itch since I have sensitive skin.)
- Also other salons may have a big powder brush (or in a pinch, a towel) to go over your face and neck, brushing off cut pieces of hair, so your cut hair is not prickly and unsightly after you leave - this wasn't done.
- She worked into the ends of my layers with a razor, which I should've stopped, because my hair is wavy and use of razor tends to get the ends all frizzy for my hair type... this of course depends on your preference I realize, but other stylists I'd worked with had asked me if it's okay to use a razor before they wacked ends with it.
I do realize as a small business there are costs you need to cut, but an extra attention to detail wouldn't hurt. I'll have to see how my hair grows out, too, since a good cut would grow out well... Definitely a nice neighborhood salon with a really friendly atmosphere, but I think it could improve if it wanted to compete with some of the better salons.
P.S. Customers next to me had a bright idea of ordering in lunch while they were getting their hair done. Nice laid back atmosphere lets you do that. Cool. I don't know if I'd do it because of all the chemical smell, but it's a good option if you're pinched for time.
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I love their laid-back atmosphere at Toyoda Sushi. The workmanship is not quite top-notch, but it delivers good, decent food with fresh ingredients, and the people are so nice. Nigiris here come...
I love their laid-back atmosphere at Toyoda Sushi. The workmanship is not quite top-notch, but it delivers good, decent food with fresh ingredients, and the people are so nice. Nigiris here come with big pieces of fish for sure :-) I like how miso soup comes out as soon as you sit down at the bar. Don't know about the last complimentary salad we received though - it was some pasta-y salad with milky bland sauce and fake crabs in it. If you gotta do a little complimentary dish (referred to as sakizuke - a little dish preceding a meal) you gotta do it right.
Like kabuki, sushi was really for commoners to begin with if you trace back the history, so I hate all the fuss at some places as well as pretentious chefs. Toyoda Sushi is plain and old fashioned in a good way - it makes you comfortable and they are considerate of how you are eating. In my book their eagerness to please you gets high marks.
Their ikura is good (tastes like it's cured in house) and unagi is also good. I'd ask the chef what's good that day if you are eating sushi. I haven't tried lots of their cooked dishes, and I don't intend to try tempura ice cream they push - they are usually nasty things that come pre-packaged from a supplier, ready to be fried. It's just me (I don't believe in food at a restaurant that's not prepared on-site), but who knows what preservatives went in there. All in all, eating sushi here is a good neighborhood experience when you crave sushi but don't want to have to dress up for it.
Don't miss the huge model/model train store down the street if you're into that sort of thing. Also they have a Prime Minister Koizumi maneki neko (lucky cat) - pretty classic.
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J Crew
Category:
Apparel
600 Pine St Ste 105
Seattle, Washington 98101
(206) 652-9788
Two words: Thinsulate lining. That is why I keep going back to J Crew for winter coat practicality (I get cold!), despite the fact I'm trying to shed my way-too-preppy youth at a boarding school. ...
Two words: Thinsulate lining. That is why I keep going back to J Crew for winter coat practicality (I get cold!), despite the fact I'm trying to shed my way-too-preppy youth at a boarding school. I do believe their clothing line has come a long way. In fact I quite like the formal dress selection and am getting married in one of their dresses. On the other hand, their accessory line still is limited and mostly too preppy IMHO unless you actually presently attend a prep school.
Also their staple items' quality has gone downhill. For example, the flannel lined chinos they keep making year after year for winter (mostly for New Englanders I'm sure - bought my first pair more than 15 yrs ago), the lining/finishing job around the waist has become more and more sloppy, probably due to cheaper labor/factory contracts. Their shoes don't hold up despite the pretty high price tags. Their leather accessories' leather got thinner (for the same items they make season after season). So yes, the clothes do look nice and I still like many of them, but in terms of consistency, it's no L.L. Bean tote.
In my customer service oriented mind, you should always take care of your oldest customers the best, but it is a corporation which seeks profitability, so no wonder they've lost their sight on basic standards with their roots (they used to only sell cotton) and are focusing on flashy, silky Made-in-Italy (larger profit margin) stuff.
In terms of sales, buyers beware: they could lower prices for sale and jack them right back up if they feel the demand is high. I once watched a coat go down to a certain price at the end of the season, and when they were selling well on the web site (and presumably retail stores), the price went back up both at the web site and the retail stores. That's kind of evil and should bring bad karma in my (apparel) retail dictionary.
I would also note that there are different kinds of factory outlet stores: one kind mostly makes cheap quality stuff exclusively for factory stores, the other kind mostly sells their old stuff (from last season, for example) and defect/irregular items. I like the latter, since you get higher quality items at a lower price - these tend to be retailers whose items go with trends of the season. J Crew factory store, from what I observed, is unfortunately the former. Since their stuff is usually "timeless" and their inventory control tight, they don't really sell all that much good, last season stuff at factory stores. They sell lower quality items at factory stores. Thus, you'll have a better time at regular retail stores' sales... FYI.
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I'm a hard core NPR listener and a big fan of the Car Talk show, and I tend to trust the show's listeners' opinions. So when I just moved here and my GTI needed service, I didn't hesitate to go to...
I'm a hard core NPR listener and a big fan of the Car Talk show, and I tend to trust the show's listeners' opinions. So when I just moved here and my GTI needed service, I didn't hesitate to go to the Car Talk web site's Mechanics Files (used to be called Mechani-X Files or something, but must have had copyright issues).
And it delivered. I went to the highest rated neighborhood mechanic, Louis Foreign Car Repair shop, which used to be owned by Louis but now run by Dan who bought it from Louis after years of working there. This is an old school shop with the sign you can barely read, so if you want a shop that's shiny with donuts and coffee machine, it isn't for you.
What the shop does is take care of your car. Dan is not an overly chatty guy and is not into fluff, but he knows his stuff. He always seems to estimate a little higher than what you would actually pay, so there's no surprise, and it's usually a good estimate. He looks out for you (your car) and wouldn't do things that are not necessary, so you know you're not getting ripped off. When there are multiple options, he would explain them to you along with pros and cons and lets you choose. They are also super quick. I dropped my car off for service the other day, and I swear Dan called me back within an hour. I trust this man - he's honest and competent, as simple as that, but that seems hard to come by in today's auto industry.
He does seem to be a religious man, so if you take offense in him putting his religious beliefs in places, don't go there. I mention this because my Danish friend once was really offended when his mechanic put a cross or something on the receipt (he felt it was inappropriate to put your personal beliefs on business material). I'm okay with it, as long as I know he's the man for the job I need to get done.
P.S. Apparently he's an expert in older VW engine rebuild, if you have an older bus, etc.
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Hiroki
Category:
Food & Dining
2224 N. 56th St.
Seattle, Washington 98103
(206) 547-4128
Sweet tooth. Don't have one, but I'd go to Hiroki and eat his cakes anytime. Having had access to oodles and oodles of fine pastry shops in Tokyo growing up, I do not like overly sweet sweets that...
Sweet tooth. Don't have one, but I'd go to Hiroki and eat his cakes anytime. Having had access to oodles and oodles of fine pastry shops in Tokyo growing up, I do not like overly sweet sweets that taste like sugar. Nor overindulgence in frosting (sorry, frosting fans). What I do appreciate, is craftsmanship and the amount of detail that goes into good pastry.
This place is a gem that is run by Hiroki the owner, and is a bakery and cafe near Green Lake. His tireless love for food shows in that he seems to be often running the place alone until 9 pm every day. We sampled 3 of his cakes one day, a fine crafted bread, and a quiche. Being later in the afternoon Hiroki had his oven off, but was nice enough to fire it up again to heat the bread and quiche when I asked if I could have the quiche warm. He doesn't believe in microwaving his fine creations (good sign). I have a feeling he might have an old fashioned gas oven in there.
Maccha (green tea) tiramisu has sponge layers soaked in green tea and plum wine, and is as light as feather. No heavy stomach after this! Nor overwhelming "green tea flavoring" (did you know that is made from alfalfa?). Not your Italian tiramisu, but is a perfect accompaniment to the delicate pot of tea we were having. The bread's crust is light and flaky. The quiche is petite but with intense flavor. He served it all to us like a little sample course menu, one by one. We took home his poached pears with Mascarpone cream in a brioche cup as we became full - oh it was delightful. Everything here is authentic, hard core Japanese-French.
The cafe is a small space with some seating outside, and is a nice quaint spot. It's the sort of place you don't want to tell everyone because you don't want it to be too crowded and you don't want to overwhelm Hiroki-san, but people should know there's a patisserie heaven here (yes, even when you are on a diet - the pieces are small enough!). Flavors are very subtle and delicate, though, so it may not be for those "decadence-in-chocolate" fans or chain restaurant mud pie fans.
You can also take his creations home, cakes, bread and cookies. For best selection go early. If you order a custom cake, it probably wouldn't be grocery store cheap but you'll never be disappointed and will certainly be delighted.
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They do good sandwiches which are unexpected. We had Crispy Drunken Chicken and slow cooked pork with reduced wine sauce or something rather. Just writing about it makes me hungry. For my taste...
They do good sandwiches which are unexpected. We had Crispy Drunken Chicken and slow cooked pork with reduced wine sauce or something rather. Just writing about it makes me hungry. For my taste I'd add a little more veggies and cilantro to Drunken Chicken, but that's just me. It's probably perfect for a regular meat eater, and flavors are yummmmm-y. The chicken and pork are both very, very tender. The sandwiches are $6-7, and you get what you pay for and then some. Their fries are good too (have it with truffle oil). It's no sub shop, so don't go in there expecting to spend $5, but more like $10/pp. The food is great for a hungry stomach who needs quick fix, when you don't want to degrade yourself to fast food.
It's considered Capital Hill, but it's at the very edge (1203 Pine St) - and I'd consider it really bordering downtown. It is hard to park but not impossible.
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Don't know if she would bill your particular insurance, but I know she is a preferred provider with Premera Blue Cross. I go to her for my back pain and she is good (and I've had a fair amount of...
Don't know if she would bill your particular insurance, but I know she is a preferred provider with Premera Blue Cross. I go to her for my back pain and she is good (and I've had a fair amount of massages in my time, being Japanese, shiatsu/acupuncture/massage addict, who's been through a few accidents). She's also conveniently in Washington Chiropractic Center with Dr. Baty, who is a chiropractor, near U Village. Dr. Baty is kinda old school and only speak few words but is pretty funny.
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Quick, cheap, hipster sushi for the young. They brag about their good Nishiki rice and their Yamamotoyama nori, but they are standard for regular dishes (home), not sushi or anything fancy. I'm...
Quick, cheap, hipster sushi for the young. They brag about their good Nishiki rice and their Yamamotoyama nori, but they are standard for regular dishes (home), not sushi or anything fancy. I'm just happy we can grab sushi quickly (if there isn't a super long wait, which sometimes there is - don't go there starving, wait time is never as long as they say, and if you have to, shop in the mall to kill time and come back - you will be seated right after you come back).
Kaiten sushi (conveyor belt sushi) is tough to run if you don't have enough people coming and going, so it's a good thing it's usually crowded. Otherwise the sushi would get old spinning around for too long. They have decent salmon and ikura (salmon roe) - expected from Seattle's geographic location - ikura is never on the belt, so you have to get your waiter and order. I'm not excited that they charge so much for a generic tea bag green tea. But hey, kaiten sushi is basically McDonald's of sushi, so for that this place gets the job done, and it's better than grocery store sushi (and probably cheaper than trying to do it at home with stuff from Whole Foods). They also have fun drinks. Yeah service could be slow, you just have to learn to use that blue button and be patient (it's semi self service - low expectation is key). I'm mostly happy that I can see all the names of the subways I used to ride in Tokyo, and I can come out without breaking the bank. Also being able to have a Japanese cream puff is a plus. Don't expect anything "authentic", but go there for lighthearted fun.
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I agree with Robert S that they shouldn't try to pass themselves off as a hip restaurant, because it really isn't. Although it's in a good downtown location (at Harbor Steps at 1st and Seneca), it...
I agree with Robert S that they shouldn't try to pass themselves off as a hip restaurant, because it really isn't. Although it's in a good downtown location (at Harbor Steps at 1st and Seneca), it reminds me more of a mom-and-pops shop in Little Tokyo. They have a wide variety of meals - lot of it standard fare. We were in a temporary housing next door (Harbor Steps Apts) for a while so we ate there a few times, and the only complaint is that my fiance got sick after he ate their tonkotsu ramen (he commented it tasted funny too before he got sick). It could be the cured pork, chashu (different spelling in Chinese, which I don't know - sorry), was old. Also tonkotsu takes the soup stock from pig bones, so that may not have been cleaned well.
It's nice to have a comfort food restaurant, though, which has things like katsu-don (fried cutlet cooked in eggs and dashi on a bed of rice) and oyako-don (chicken and eggs cooked in dashi over a bed of rice; since chicken and eggs are parent and child it's called oyako - parent/child - the variation is tanin-don, which translates to stranger-bowl, if you use beef and egg - ha ha). Having cheap-ish udon and soba is also nice.
In summary, I wouldn't go there for a particular reason or a date, and probably wouldn't eat sushi there, but if you're a nearby and miss some home cooking style Japanese, this place would probably come out cheaper than a lot of places around there. And yes, the chef and at least one of the servers are Japanese. But it's common for Japanese restaurants to have more unskilled labor in the kitchen, so I wouldn't count on delicate Japanese cuisine - but at least it's being supervised by Japanese so it wouldn't be terribly unauthentic.
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